Australia's Neil Robertson aiming to break the curse of the Crucible

Australia's Neil Robertson says he has 'got the game and the mentality' to make world championship history at the Crucible. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA

Neil Robertson's quest over the next 17 days is to defy the curse of the Crucible by doing what Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry, and Ronnie O'Sullivan never managed to achieve, and become the first debut world champion to retain the title.

The Australian meets Judd Trump in the opening round when the tournament starts tomorrow, having defeated Graeme Dott 18-13 in last year's gruelling final, which ended at 12.54am on the Tuesday.

Robertson, the world No5 but who has not progressed beyond the second round in the last three ranking events, said winning the 2010 title floored him. "The championship is an absolute marathon, it completely destroys you afterwards. Mentally for two weeks I was so drained. You are absolutely buzzing, but there's not much left in the tank either.

"No player's ever defended the title once winning it for the first time. People go on about the Crucible curse and there not having been a first-time winner defend the title. People think that's an added pressure but I see it [another way]. If ninety per cent of players had defended it after winning the title for the first time, that would be pressure. "

Trump won the China Open a fortnight ago, his first ranking-event success, which suggests he is a tough opponent to start a defence against. Can Robertson retain the title? "Yeah. I definitely believe so. I've got the game, I've got the mentality, I've done it before," he said. "I've got absolutely no doubt. Possibly my match against Judd will be the toughest until the quarters or semi-finals. Everyone knows once I get to the later stages of a tournament I produce my best: I've won six out of six world ranking finals."

Trump is 21 and has his own particular vision of his career, and the sport. "In China, snooker is cool. Maybe I could help try to make it cool, be the playboy of snooker. If there are groupies out there, bring them on, the more the merrier. I'm young, free and single, and I want to enjoy myself.

O'Sullivan arrives in Sheffield as the world No10 and is not rated as favourite for the first time in a decade while the considered view is that John Higgins can claim a fourth title.

The Scot returned from a six-month suspension – "for giving the impression" he would breach betting rules – to win 18 of his first 19 matches, two tournaments, and has regained the No1 ranking.

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